Animal Nutrition

Des Moines – October 14, 2026 -- The U.S. FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine has approved Kemin Industries' chromium propionate as a source of organic chromium in broiler breeder chicken and laying hen diets, extending its approved use to seven animal categories.

Chromium propionate is now cleared for swine, broiler chickens, cattle, horses, growing turkeys, broiler breeder chickens and laying hens. Kemin says its KemTRACE® Chromium is the only FDA-reviewed source of chromium propionate on the market and has been fed to millions of animals worldwide.

Kemin's research base of more than 30 years supported the FDA decision

Kemin conducted the research that served as the basis for the approval. The company says peer-reviewed studies across species show chromium can reduce cortisol, the hormone secreted in response to stress. That reduction may limit the effects of stress events such as extreme heat or cold, diet changes and disease challenges.

St. Louis – October 12, 2026 -- Labrador Retrievers kept lean from puppyhood lived a median of 1.8 years longer than heavier matched littermates, according to findings from the 14-year Purina Life Span Study, which the Purina Institute is revisiting on the study's 25th anniversary.

Lean-fed dogs reached a median life span of 13.0 years versus 11.2 years for controls

The study followed 48 Labrador Retrievers from seven litters. Each pair of matched littermates received the same complete and balanced diet, but one dog was fed 25% less food than its sibling to maintain lean body condition. The sibling served as the control. The Purina Institute describes it as the first-ever canine lifelong dietary study.

The 1.8-year gap equals a 15% extension in median life span. Lean-fed dogs also stayed free of treatment for age-related chronic conditions for longer, reaching 12.0 years before treatment was required versus 9.9 years for control-fed dogs.